Quake Shakes Post-Nuke Test Asia

(CBS/AP)  As Asia sorted out another batch of diplomatic back-and-forth and rhetoric from North Korea over Monday's nuclear weapons test, with a U.N. vote on sanctions expected soon - a quake hit in northern Japan early Wednesday and reports spread that North Korea might have done a second nuclear test.

Within a short time, officials in Japan, the U.S. and South Korea all said they had no evidence that a nuclear test had taken place.

A source at the CIA told CBS News national security correspondent David Martin that the agency has found no seismic readings that would indicate a North Korean nuclear blast or other independent information to corroborate the claim. S. Korean monitors reported the same, and Japan's prime minister said he had no confirmation of a second blast — a stance seconded by the White House.

The worldwide alarm underlined the jitters felt after North Korea announced Monday it had tested its first nuclear bomb, leading to a U.S.-backed push to have the U.N. Security Council sanction the reclusive communist state. Some say the regime may conduct more tests amid suspicion the first, relatively small explosion might have partially failed.

Concern was triggered early Wednesday after the Japanese government detected tremors that led it to suspect North Korea had conducted another nuclear test, according to news reports and a Foreign Ministry spokesman.

Shortly afterward, the country's meteorological agency reported a magnitude-6.0 earthquake shook northern Japan. However, agency spokesman Yukuhiro Watanabe said that quake was being considered separately from reports of new tremors in North Korea.

Data from elsewhere suggested all was quiet in North Korea.

"There's no signal from North Korea, even no small event," Chi Heon-cheol, director of the South's Korea Earthquake Research Center, told The Associated Press.

"There has been no activity in the last two hours," U.S. Geological Survey official Rafael Abreu told AP just after 9 a.m. in Korea.

The agency can detect most tremors if they are above 3.5 magnitude, he said.

But the region's anxiety was reflected by Australia's foreign minister saying Wednesday that Australia has "real concerns" that North Korea will conduct a second nuclear test soon.

"We have very real concerns that they may conduct another nuclear test and that they may do so very soon," Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said, without elaborating.

In Washington, White House spokesman Blair Jones said signs pointed to an earthquake, not another underground nuclear detonation.

"We have detected no evidence of additional North Korea testing," Jones said. "Japanese officials are now saying that this occurrence may be related to an earthquake in northern Japan. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and consult with our allies in the region."

Pentagon spokesman, Army Lt. Col. Brian Maka, said: "We have received no credible information to confirm any of that. No seismic activity has been detected on our part."

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a parliamentary meeting early Wednesday that he had no information to confirm a second nuclear test by North Korea.

"I have had not received information about any indications... that a test has take place," said Abe.

[reuben110-2009]

Well I'm glad that we are so focused on Iran, Uranium has to be enriched to 90% for weapons. Iran have so far managed 6.4% isnt that great. North Korea were not ever really a threat were they? This has really evolved into a nice situation. If N.Korea had oil, if only, never mind, we shuldnt let it be our focus next time. Next time lets focus on the real threats.

[a8m3h]

lots of fancy words don't mean a thing, and you crybabies aren't helping either... So, a little boom-boom scares you? What about the underground testing done in the west, USA, that killed our cattle and babies too, from poisoning the milk with after-gases. Short memories, eh? This went on for years, and the government denied it, don't remember which presidents were in then, doesn't matter.. get on with the NOW problems, your looking too far into the future, we all may be dead by then anyway... Widow Lady

[drgoodwin12]

To fredegrar thanks,the amounts of uranuium cannot be accurately found at wikipedia(not knocking them)the NIE and the pentagon know how much and where.My Uncle served at the Pentagon for over 20 years and originally suggested this idea to me.How much would we have to buy or seize is a question i cannot answer without consulting him.He still has top secret clearance,mine expired about 25 years ago.I cannot give you the answers you want immediately but we can press our elected and to be elected officials to respond.It seems a saner course than the one we have been pursuing and as far as destroying it that is the easiest part of the equation.We can by through multiple filtration of water and a resevoir to catch it after it has been ground down into powder.

[fredegrar]

drgoodwin, thanks for replying! I understand that China has done nothing but support the communists in N Korea for all this time. I don't need to do research to understand that, but thanks for the suggestion. All I'm trying to suggest is that China is only acting in what it perceives to be its own best interest. If they perceived that their interests are better served by undermining Kim Jong Nutcase, maybe they would do something. We don't have to trust them, we just have to understand what they want and use that information to our advantage.
As far as your idea is concerned, I don't actually know what's far-fetched about it - thus the number of questions that immediatelty sprung to mind... like how much Uranium is there on the planet? how much is mined, but still in raw form, how much is refined, and how much is still in the ground? how much would we have to 'seize' as opposed to purchasing? how do you keep people from mining more? How do you destroy Uranium, exactly? Yes, I realize some of those things I could find on wikipedia, all I was looking for was a link to more targetted reference material. I was honestly trying to give your idea some thought - not trying to knock it.

[tomflint69]

drgoodwin12, I agree with you that news are comming and nothing perfect can be said but, it would be a mere excuse to say that they werent attacked by insurgents or some one else because U.S army is well organised and they cant do such stupid mistakes to accidently put on fire their own ammonition.
No army or millitary performs its any other tasks in its ammonition depot except storage and retrieval! I am sad because we may never come to know about the truth. I only pray for no casualities at all.

[drgoodwin12]

If you are reffering to the Falcon base,initial reports do not mention Al Queda or a death toll.There are approximately 100 US soldiers there.It has been suggested(emphasis on suggested that insurgents may have started the fire)The fire has created a tremedous explosion one that rocked parts of Bagdad 4 miles away.This is a developing story and until all the facts come out we are in the dark.The top generals assessment of Iraq is already bleak stating that we only have a 2 mth. window to control the deteriating situation.Let us wait and see before we rush to judgement as to the cause.

[tomflint69]

See Cnn.com video section. They arent putting details cuz the casualties can be in hundreds. Jesus help us :(

[drgoodwin12]

Give me an exact link to the story of Al Queda attacking our military base.i went to cnn and found nothing.

[tomflint69]

Hey, hey, visit Cnn.com and see their video that U.S military base is under attack of AlQeda. Everywhere ammonition is burrning there. Jesus, help us!

[tomflint69]

what will US do now? heeee heeee kheeee kheeeee. long live Brits